Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — On Monday evening at the famed Nova União academy in the Flamengo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, top UFC lightweight fighter Gray "The Bully" Maynard received his blue belt in jiu-jitsu after training in the gi for one month.

UFC president Dana White, who has long teased an international version of "The Ultimate Fighter" today said a Brazilian edition of the long-running reality series is "a done deal" and will debut in the near future.

And while White insists the company has not yet confirmed when it will return to Brazil for a live event, he said the UFC is actively working on booking "as many (events) as we possibly can."

The 2011 US Open this past weekend was an awesome event, even though I wasn't able to secure the result I had hoped for.

I ended up winning my first fight 5 to 0 and losing my second fight 4 to 2 for a bronze medal. I then went on to fight the open division with a similar result of winning my first match and losing my second.

Regarded as one of the greatest Brazilian promises up to 61 kg, John Lineker showed in the Jungle Fight 32, that now he is a top fighter in the national MMA scenario. In the duel against the equally tough Iliarde Santos, Lineker had consistent performance, despite the unanimous decision victory, which gave him the champion title.

Shooto middleweight South American champion Carlos Índio is another Brazilian who has signed with Bellator. The fighter will make his debut in the Nov. 19 event, opponent to be confirmed in a single fight on the show.

After the Rio Open I had to change locations because I was staying with my friend Marcus Antelante who is now traveling to the United States to teach classes in Atlanta. So now I'm here with my Brazilian Brothers Leopoldo and Theodoro Canal in Recreio. Whenver Theodoro travels to Santa Cruz, CA he stays with me and my family and whenever I come to visit Rio he always receives me in his home and takes really good care of me.

After competing the World Cup(see entry #2) I was taken to the apartment of my good friend and black belt from Soulfighters team Marcus Antelante where I would spend the next two weeks. Marcus had spent two weeks at my house in California training with our team at Claudio Franca's academy before the IBJJF Mundial 2010 and now he always makes me feel at home when I'm here in Brazil.